haepee



(No Model.)

J. MOD. HARPER.

GAR COUPLING. V

Patented Feb. 5 1884 7 ya WIT/V5885? 9 INVENTOI? 706 35M M N. PETERS. Plwlo-Lilhflgr: hum Wilmington c To all whom it may concern-.-

Nrrnn ST TES PATENT @rrrcn;

JOIIN HUD. HARPER, OF OOLFAX, \VASHIXG'ION TERRITORY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,910, dated February 5, 1881.

' Application filed November 8, 18823. (No inodci.)

Be it known thatl, J ornv M01). HARPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colfax, in the county of \Vhitinan and Territory'of \Vashington, have invented a new and useful Car-Coupling, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. l

My invention relates to car-couplings, the object being to'provide a device of this character of cheap, simple, and durable construc tion, and one that shall be thoroughly effective in its operation. I

The invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts, hereinat ter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a ldngitudinal vertical section of my improved coupler applied to a car. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section onthe line aw of Fig. 2'. Fig. & is abottom view.

A represents the platform of thecar, to the under side of which is secured a block or bar, B. To the under side of this block or bar 13 is attached the draw-bar G the front end of which projects beyond the end of the block,

and is provided with a dovetailed flange, 1),

for a purpose to be more fully described.

1) represents the draw-head, the rear end of which is provided with a dovetailed groove,

1", to receivethe dovetailed'flange f 0f th bar 0. A lever, E, is pivoted to the under side of the block B. One end of said lever is secured to the under side of the draw-head. Thus the draw-head is rendered vertically adjustable to adapt itself to any height of car.-

F represents a "latch, the forward end of which is pivotally secured to the front end of the draw-head D. The rear end of this latch F is provided with a longitudinal slot," F, to

fit over the coupling-hook.

H represents a spring secured one end to I the upper inner side of the draw-head and the ling.

ment of the latch further to i nsure perfect coup- The under side of the draw-head is provided with a longitudinal slot, H. extending nearly its entire length. In the front end of this slot H is pivoted the front end of the coupling-hook I, the rear end of which is cut away and forms an angular coupling portion, a;

To the rear end of the coupling-hook I is secured a coilspring, b. To the end of this spring 6 is secured a chain, 1), which passes through a groove, 0, formed in the rear endof the draw-head, and from thence over a pulley, d, mounted on the under side of the car, which is grooved or channeled to receive it.

The forward end of the platform is provided with an opening, 0, to receive a shaft, 6, having at its upper end a hand-wheel, e, and pro vided at its lower end with a drum, to which the chain is secured, and upon which it is adapted to be wound.

One side of the draw-head is provided with a vertical slot or opening, f, through which projects an angular rod, 9, carrying at'its end a head or clapper, g, which strikes an alarm, secured to the under side of the draw-head,

when the coupling has been effected.

To the under side of the draw-head D is socured a U-shaped bracket, G which limits the downward movement of the coupling-hook when the same is disengaged from the link to uncouple the cars.

The operation is as follows: The coupling link of the adjacent car strikes against the for.- ward end of the coupling-hook, and as the same is inclined upwardly the link strikes the rear end of the latch, raising the same and allowing the link to drop over the end of the coupling-hook. The latch then descends and strikes the alarm, as described, to show that the cars have been coupled. XVhen the cars are to be uncoupled, the shaft 0 is turned or reversed, loosening the chain, thus allowing the coupling-hook to drop by means of gravity, the bracket 011 the under side of the draw-head limiting its downward movement further than to allow of the coupling-link being withdrawn.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by: Letters Patent, is-

' 1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the car or platform having a block secured to its under side, the front end of ,which is provided with a dovetailed flange, of a draw-hea d having a corresponding dovetailed groove to receive the dovetailed flange of said block, and a lever pivoted to the under side of the said block, its end being secured to the under side of the draw-head, whereby the said draw-head is rendered Vertically adjustable, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the draw-head slotted on its under side, of a coupling-hook pivotally secured in the forward end of said slot, a coiled spring secured to the rear end of said hook, a chain secured to said spring, a pulley journaled to the under side of the car, and a shaft having a drum and hand wheel and mounted in the forward end of the platform, said chain being secured to said drum and adapted to be wound thereon, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the draw head having blocks or strips secured on its inner sides, of a latch pivoted in the forward end of said draw-head and slotted at its rear end, and a coupling-hook pivoted in a slot in the draw head, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the draw -head having blocks or strips secured on its sides, of a latch pivoted in the forward end of said draw-head and slotted at its rear end, an angular rod secured to the side of said latch, and extending through an opening in the side of the draw-head, an alarm secured to the under side of the draw-head, and a coupling-latch, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the draw head slotted on its under side, of a coupling-latch pivoted in the forward end of said draw-head, and having a spring secured to its rear end, a chain connecting said spring and the shaft 0, and a U-shaped bracket secured to the under side of the draw-head to limit the downward movement of the coupling-hook, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim' the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MOD. HARPER.

\Vitnesses:

VILLIAM I. ASHPAUGH, CHAS. D. PORTER. 

